Lifting jack



Feb. 23 1926.

1,574,476 F. L. GORMLEY LIFTINCY JACK Filed August 1, 1.925 4Sheets-Sheet 1 liwentor: Frank L. Gormley,

Feb. 23 1926.

F. L. GORMLEY LIFTING JACK Filed August 1 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Ewenior:I'nmkL Gormley,

m 4 m 4 h 7 s 5 .v 1 a e h S 4 m H. N Z I L w M M 1 R a. O N u O G n W..F A.wu L I L dE e F n F Feb. 23 1926.

Inventor: Frank L. Gorm1e Jiiig.

Patented Feb. 23, 1926.

uuirun stares aruu'r ornice.

FRANK-L. GQRMLEY, O13 BRGOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE BUDACOMPANY, OF HARVEY, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS,

LIFTING JACK.

' Application filed August 1', 1925. Serial No. 47,421.

To on whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK L. GORMLEY, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and a resident of Brookline, in the county of Norfolk and Stateof Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inLifting Jacks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to high speed selflowering lifting jacks and hasfor its object the production of a jack of this character in which thespeed of lowering may be regu lated either manually or automatically.

This object is attained by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, one preferred formthereof is illustrated in the drawings, this form having been found togive satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understoodthat the various instrumentalities of which the invention consists canbe variously arranged and organized, and the invention-is not limited tothe precise arr-agement and organization of these instrumentalities asherein shown and described except as required by the scope of theappended claims.

Of the drawings:

Figure 1 represents a vertical section of a lifting jack, embodying theprinciples of the present invention.

Figure 2 represents a vertical section of same on line 2, 2 on Fig. 1.

Figure 3 represents a section on line 3 3 on Fig. 2.

Figure 4 represents a vertical section of the lifting jack on line 4, 4on Fig. 2.

Figure 5 represents a horizontal section of same on line 5, 5 on Fig. 1,and I Figure 6 represents a horizontal section of a portion of thelifting jack on line 6, 6 on Fig. 4.

Similar characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures ofthe draw ings.

In the drawings, 10 is the base of a lifting jack having an upwardlyextending projection 11, to which is threaded the lower end of astandard 12, in the upper end of which is a cylindrical bearing 13 forthe vertically movable ram 14-.

This ram 14 has an enlarged head 15 adapted to rest upon the upper endof the standard 12 when in its lowest position.

' The lower end of the ram 14 has mount-ed therein a nut 16 threaded tothe main lift mg screw 17, the lower end of which has keyed thereto abevel gear 18 meshing With bevel gear 19 formed upon the actuating shaft20. v

The shaft 20 has mounted on its outer end a device 21 for impartingrotary movement to the shaft 20 in one direction only, and that is,during the lifting operation.

This actuating device 21 may be of any well known construction andtherefore is r not shown or described in detail.

The standard 12 has a lateral extension 1 The pitch of the thread ofsaid worm 25 is such as to permit it to be rotated by said worm gear 24in whichever direction the gear 24 may be rotated Surrounding the hub ofthe gear 18 is a hearing plate '27 having a groove in its under faceinto which extend the antifrictional members 28 resting upon anotherbearing plate 29 supported and centrally disposed upon the projection 11of the base 10.

One end of the worm shaft 26 is mounted in a hearing in the wall of theextension 22, while the opposite end is mounted in a hearing in aremovable disk 30,threaded to the opposite wall of said extension.

Thrust bearings 31 and 32 are provided at the opposite ends of the wormshaft 26.

Keyed to the shaft 26 is an annular mem her 33 having loosely mountedthereon a worm gear 34 provided with an annular flange having securedtherein a ratchet 36.

The member 33 has a flange 37 at one end thereof on which is pivotallymounted a plurality of pawls 38, normally forced outwardly by springs 39into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet 86.

The worm gear 34 coacts with a vertical worm 39* formed upon theshaft40.

This shaft 40 has a bearing 41 in the lower wall of the extension 22 andanother bearing 42 in the partition or wall 43 near the upper end ofsaid extension.

Between the under face of the extension 43 and the shoulder 44 on theworm 39* is a thrust bearing The upper end of the shaft 40 has keyedthereto a disk 46 having pivotally mounted thereon at 47 a plurality ofbearing plates 48, normally forced outwardly by springs 49, against thebrake arms 50 surrounding the disk 46 and bearing plates 48, said brakearms 50 being pivoted at one end at 51 to the wall 43.

The opposite ends of the brake arms 50 are provided with parallel,separated eX- tensions 52, between which is positioned a am member 58mounted upon a pin 54 e2;- tending upwardly through the cover plate 55and having an actuating finger 56 secured to its upper end.

The partition or wall 48 has extending upwardly therefrom lugs 57between which and the extensions 52 are disposed helical springs 58which normally retain the brake arms 50 in contact with the bearingplates 48 pivotally mounted upon the disk 46 When the parts are in theposition indicated in the drawings there will be sufficient frictionbetween the brake arms 50 and the bearing plates 48 to retain the ram inelevated position and preventits lowering under the load.

When it isdesired to lower the load the operator manipulates the finger56 causing the cam 53 to separate the brake arms 50, thereby reducing africtional Contact between these arms and the bearing plates 48.

It is obvious that by the movement of the finger 56 about the axis ofthe pin 54 any degree of friction between thearms 50 and plates 48 maybe secured and the speed of lowering the ram controlled.

The extension 22 is formed integral with the two part standard 12 andthe partition or wall 43 is also formed integral with the lower partthereof, this wall being somewhat depressed and forming a chamber 5.) inwhich the speed controlling devices 46, 48, 50 and 53 are positioned,this chamber being closed by means of the cover plate The bearing 23 isprovided with a bushing 60 and the shaft 20 may be installed in thebearing 23 from the inner end there of before the bushing 60 is insertedinto the outer end thereof, the said shaft being inserted into thechamber within the extension 22 through the opening in the bottom of thestandard 12 before said standard has been threaded to the base 10.

The bushing is then positioned within the bearing 23 and around theshaft 20 and then the actuating device 21 is installed on the outer endof said shaft.

It will be noted that in the present construction all of the gears andworms are revoluble in bearings formed in a single unitary shell, casingor standard, thereby dispensing with the cover plates generally used inlifting jacks of this character.

Heretofore, when some of the parts were mounted upon the cover platesecured to the standard or casing by means of screws, the latter wouldsometimes become loose and allow the cover plate to shift, thus movingout of alignment the gears for lifting the load. This movement of thegears out of alignment would cause the binding of the teeth andinterfere with the proper working of the jack.

By forming all the bearings for these working parts in a single casing,this objection is wholly overcome.

The worm gear 24 and the worm 25 rotate both when the ram is beingraised and also when it is being lowered.

lVhen the load is being lifted the worm 39 and worm gear 34 areprevented from being rotated by means of the braking mechanism 46, 48and 50.

The mechanism thus far described is practically the same as that shownand described in another application of mine, filed May 15, 1925, andnumbered 30,420, upon which the present application is an improvement.

The vertical shaft 40 extends upwardly through the disk 46 and has keyedthereto a pinion 61 normally meshing with a gear 62 on a. vertical shaft63 revoluble in bearings 64 in the lateral extension 22. Adjacent thesebearings 64 are anti-frictiou members 65, between which upon the shaft63 is a worm 66.

This worm'66 meshes with a worm gear 67 keyed to and revoluble with ashaft 68 extending through a bearing 69 in one wall of the extension 22.

This shaft 68 has a. reduced portion 7 to which is pivoted at 71 a crank72. Mounted on the crank 72 and slidable over the pivotal connection 71between the reduced portion of the shaft 68 and the crank 72 is a sleeve7 3.

hen it is desired to rotate the worm gear 67 by turning the crank 72,the sleeve 7 3 is in the position indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawings.When such manual rotation of the gear 67 is not desired the sleeve 73 ismoved into position indicated in Fig. 5 of the drawings and the crank 72is moved about its pivot 71 into the position indicated in said figure.In this position it is out of the operators way when he is manipulatingthe device 21 toraise the load.

By means of this crank 7 2 the lowering of the load may be controlledmanually, as it can move downwardly no faster than the operator rotatesthe gear 67 by means of said crank 7 2.

Above the pinion 61 and surrounding the upper end of the shaft is acup-shaped member 7% having a knurled head 75 by which it may be rotatedabout the axis of the shaft 40. This cup-shaped member 74f has a pin 7 6extending laterally therefrom as indicated in Fig. 4: of the drawings.

\Vhen the pinion til-and gear 62 are in mesh, the pin 7 6 is retainedagainst the lower face of the wall 77 by means of a spring 78 positionedin an annular recess in the disk 46.

When it is desired to control the lowering of the load automatically theoperator turns the cupshaped member 74 until the pin 76 is in registerwith the slot 79 in the wall 77.

When this pin 7 6 is brought into register with the slot 79 the spring78 will force the pinion 61 and cup-shaped member 74 upwardly until saidpinion is out of mesh with its coact-ing gear 62.

lVhen in this position it is obvious that the speed of lowering must begoverned automatically, as the connection with the manually controllingdevice has been disconnected. In this case the speed is regulated bymanipulating the finger 56 controlling the. position of the brake arms50.

By means of this simple construction, the high speed lowering jack maybe controlled during the lowering movement, either automatically ormanually at the will of the operator, the only requirement being themanipulation of the cup-shaped member 7a to bring the pinion 61 and gear62 into mesh or permit said pinion to be moved out of mesh.

It is believed that the operation and many advantages of the inventionwill be understood without further description.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. In a self-loweringlifting jack; a standard; a ram movable relatively thereto; actuatingmeans for raising the ram; automatic means for controlling the loweringof the ram including a revoluble shaft; a pinion keyed to and slidablelengthwise of said shaft; a gear adapted to mesh with said pinion,-manually operated means for retarding the rotation of said gear; andmeans for moving said pinion out of mesh with said gear.

2. In a self-lowering lifting jack; a standard; a ram movable relativelythereto; actuating means for raising the ram; automatic means forcontrolling the lowering of the ram including a revoluble shaft; apinion keyed to and slidable lengthwise of saidv shaft; a gear adaptedto mesh with said pinion; manually operated means for retarding therotation of said gear; a spring to force said pinion out of mesh withsaid gear; and means on the end of said shaft for compressing saidspring and retaining said pinion and gear in mesh.

3. In a self-lowering lifting jack; a standard; a ram movable relativelythereto; actuating means for raising the ram; automatic means forcontrolling the lowering of the ram including a revoluble shaft; apinion keyed to and slidable lengthwise of said shaft; a gear adapted tomeshwith said pinion; manually operated means for retarding the rotationof said gear; a member surrounding the upper end of said shaft andadapted to compress said spring and retain said pinion and gear in mesh;and means for locking said member to prevent end movement thereof.

l. In a self-lowering lifting jack; a standard; a ram movable relativelythereto; actuating means for raising the ram; au tomatic means forcontrolling the lowering of the ram including a revoluble shaft; apinion keyed to and slidable lengthwise of said shaft; a gear adapted tomesh with said pinion; manually operated means for retarding therotation of said gear; a spring to force said pinion out of mesh withsaid gear; a member surrounding the upper end of said shaft and adaptedto compress said spring and retain said pinion and gear in mesh, saidmember being rotatable and having a bearing in the wall of the jackcasing, said bearing iaving a slot extending lengthwise thereof; and apin for locking said member to prevent end movement thereof extendinglaterally from said member, said pin coacting with the said wall whenthe spring is compressed and being positioned in said slot when the.spring is expanded.

5. In a self-lowering lifting jack; a standard; a ram movable relativelythereto; actuating means for raising the'ram; automatic means forcontrolling the lowering of the ram including a revoluble shaft; a brakedisk secured to and revoluble with said shaft and having in its upperface an annular recess surrounding said shaft; a pinion keyed to andslidable lengthwise of said shaft; a spring in said recess and bearingagainst the under face of said pinion; a gear adapted to mesh with saidpinion; manually operated means for retarding the rotation of said gear;and means for cornpressing said spring and retaining said pinion andgear in mesh.

6. In a self-lowering lifting jack; a standard; a ram movable relativelythereto; actuating means for raising the ram; automatic means forcontrolling the lowering of the ram including a revoluble shaftrotatable in one. direction only; a pinion keyed to and slidablelengthwise of said shaft; a gear adapted to mesh with saidpinion;manually operated means for retarding the rotation of said gear; meansfor moving said pinion out of mesh with said gear; and brake mechanismfor controlling the rotation of said shaft when the gen 1 and pinionare'out of mesh.

7. In a self-lowering lifting jack; a standard; a ram movable relativelythereto; actuating means for raising); the ram; automatic means forcontrolling the lowering of the rain including a revoluble shaftrotatable in one direction only; a. pinion keyed to and slidablelengthwise of 7 shaft; a gear adapted to mesh with pinion; manuallyoperated means for re tarding the rotation of said gear; a spring toforce said pinion out of mesh with slid gear; means on the end of saidshaft for compressing said spring and retaining; said pinion and gear inmesh; and brake mechanism for controlling th rotation of said shaft whenthe gear and pinion are out of mesh. I

8. In a self-lowering lifting jack; a standard; a ram movable relativelythereto; actuating means f 1' raising the ram; automatic means forcontrolling the lowering of the rain including a revoluble shaftrotatable in one direction only; a pinion keyed to and slidablelengthwise of said shaft; a gear adapted to mesh with said pinion;manually operated means for retarding the rotation of said gear; a'sorine' to force said pinion out of mesh with said gear: a member surrounding the upper end of said shaft and adapted to compress said springand retain said pinion and gear in mesh; means for locking said memberto prevent end movement thereof when the spring is compressed; and brakemechanism for controlling the rotation of said shaft when the gear andpinion are out of mesh.

9. In fl-SQlf-lOWGIiDQ lifting jack, a standard; a ram movablerelatively thereto; actuating-,1 means for raising the ram; automaticmeans for controlling the lowering of the ram including; a revolubleshaft rotatable in one direction only; a pinion keyed to and slidablelengthwise of said shaft; a gear adapted to mesh with said pinion;manually operated means for retarding the rotation of said gear; aspring); to force said pinion out of mesh with said gear; neans adaptedto compress said spring and retain said pinion and gear in mesh; brakedisk rotatable with said shaft; brake arms adapted to frictionallycontact with the periphery thereof; and means for controlling saidfrictional contact.

lOuln a self-lowering lifting; jack; a standard; a ram movablerelatively thereof;

actuating means for raising the ram; automatic means for controlling thelowering of the ram including a revoluble shaft rotatable in onedirection only; a brake disk secured to and revoluble with said shaft;brake mechanism under the control of the operator for frictionallyengaging said disk and controlling its rotation; and a manually actuatedcrank iechanism geared to said shaft adapted to control its rotationindependent of said brake mechanism.

11. In a self-lowering lifting jack; a standard; a vertically movableram therein; means for raising the ram; a shaft adapted to be rotatedonly duringthe lowering of the ram; a pinion rotatable with said shaft:a gear mes ring with and adapted to drive said pinion; a worm revolublewith said gear and alined therewith; a worm gear meshing; with anddriven by said we 'm; and manually actuated means for controlling therotation of said worm gear.

12. In a self-lowering;- lifting jacL; a standard; a vertically movableram therein; means for raising' the rar shaft adapted to be rotated onlyduring the lowering of the ram; a pinion rotatable with said shaft; agear meshing with and adapted to drive said pinion-z a worm revolublewith said gear and alined therewith; a worm gear meshing; with andadapted to drive said worm; and a crank mounted on the end of the wormgear shaft.

13. In a self-lowering lifting jack; a standard; vertically movable ramtherein; means for raising the ram; a shaft parallel with said ram andadapted to be rotated thereby only during the lowering); of the ram; apinion mounted upon and rotatable with said shaft; a gear meshing withsaid pinion; a worm alined with said near and rotatable therewith; aworm gear meshing 'ith said worm; and a crank for rotating said wormgear.

14. In a self-lowering lifting jack; a standard; a vertically movableram therein; means for raising the ram; a shaft independent of saidraising means and adapted to be rotated during; the lowering of the ram;a pinion mounted upon and rotatable with said shaft; a gear meshing withsaid pinion; a worm alined with. said rear and rotatable therewith, saidworm being; parallel with said ram; a worm gear meshing with said worm;and a crank for rotating said worm 15. In a self-lowering;- liftingjacx; a standard; a vertically movable ram therein; means for raisingthe ram; a shaft adapted to be rotated during; the lowering of the r m;a pinion rotatable with said shaft; a gear meshing with said pinion; aworm revoluble with said ear; a worm gear 1neshing with said worm;manually actuated means for controlling the rotation of said worm gear;a disk upon said shaft; brake arms surrounding said disk and normally infrictional engagement therewith; means for separating said arms; andmeans for moving said pinion out of mesh with said gear.

16. In a self-lowering lifting ack; a standard; a vertically movable ramtherein; means for raising the ram; a shaft adapted to be rotated in onedirection only, during the lowering of the ram; a pinion keyed to androtatable with said shaft; a gear meshing and adapted to rotate saidpinion; a worm secured to and revoluble with said gear; a worm gearmeshing with said worm; manually actuated means for controlling therotation of said gear; and independent brake mechanism for controllingthe rotation of said shaft.

17. In a self-lowering lifting jack; a standard; a vertically movableram therein; means for raising the ram; a shaft independent of theraising means and parallel with said ram adapted to be rotated in onedirection only, during the lowering of the ram; a pinion rotatable withsaid shaft; a gear meshing with said pinion; a worm revoluble with saidgear; a worm gear meshing with said worm; a crank mounted on the end ofthe worm gear shaft and adapted to positively rotate said shaft; andindependent brake mechanism for controlling the rotation of said shaft.

18. In a self-lowering lifting ack; a standard; a vertically movable ramtherein; means for raising the ram; a shaft independent of the raisingmeans and parallel with said ram adapted to be rotated in one directiononly, during the lowering of the ram; a pinion rotatable with saidshaft; a gear meshing with said pinion; a worm revoluble with said gear;aworm gear meshing with said worm; manually actuated means forcontrolling the rotation of the worm gear; a disk on said shaft; andcam-controlled brake arms normally in frictional engage ment therewith.

19. In a self-lowering lifting jack; a standard; a vertically movableram therein; means for raising the ram; a shaft adapted to be rotated inone direction only during the lowering of the ram; a pinion rotatablewith said shaft; a gear meshing with said pinion; a worm revoluble withsaid gear; a worm gear meshing with said worm; crank mechanism forcontrolling the rotation of the worm gear; means for moving said pinionout of mesh with said gear; a disk on said shaft and rotatabletherewith; and means coacting therewith for retarding its rotation.

20. In a self-lowering lifting jack; a standard; a vertically movableram therein; means for raising the ram; a shaft adapted to be rotated inone direction only during the lowering of the ram; a pinion rotatablewith said shaft; a gear meshing with said pinion; a worm revoluble withsaid gear; a worm gear meshing with said worm; manually actuated meansfor controlling the rotation of said worm gear; a disk rotatable withsaid shaft; spring actuated brake members pivotally mounted upon saiddisk; brake arms surrounding said disk and normally in frictionalengagement with said members; means for separating said arms; and meansfor moving said pinion out of mesh with said gear.

21. In a self-lowering lifting jack, a standard; a vertically movableram supported thereby; means in the'base of said standard for raisingthe ram; mechanism independent of and separated from said raising meansfor controlling the lowering of the ram under a load; other mechanismindependent of the raising means and disconnected therefrom forpositively lowering the ram; and means whereby either of said mechanismsmay be placed in commission. 7 :22. In a self-lowering lifting jack, astandard; a vertically movable ram supported thereby; means in the baseof said standard for raising the ram; mechanism independent of andseparated from said raising means for controlling the lowering of theram and including in part a shaft adapted to be rotated in one directiononly, during the lowering of the ram; mechanism independ ent of theraising means and disconnected therefrom for positively lowering theram; and means recipr'ocable on said shaft for connecting anddisconnecting therewith the mechanism for positively lowering the ram.

23. In a self-lowering lifting jack, a standard; a vertically movableram supported thereby; means for raising the ram; mechanismindependent'of and separated from said raising means for controlling thelowering of the ram and including in parta shaft adapted to be rotatedin one direction only during the lowering of the ram; means forpositively lowering the ram; and slidable means keyed to said shaft forconnecting and disconnecting therewith the mechanism for positivelylowering the ram.

24. In a self-lowering lifting jack, a standard; a vertically movableram supported thereby; means for raising the ram; mechanism independentof and separated from said raising means for controlling the lowering ofthe ram and including in part a shaft adapted to be rotated in onedirection only during the lowering of the ram; mechanism for positivelylowering the ram including a rotatable gear; a pinion slidable on saidshaft; and means for. moving said pinion into and out of mesh with saidgear.

Signed by me at Boston, Mass. this 6th day of July, 1925. I

- FRANK L. GORMLEY.

